5 Signs It's Time to Hire a Professional Resume Writer

Searching for a job is an expensive process. Commuting costs, interview outfits, dry cleaning, coffee dates, networking event fees … they all add up. The last thing you want to do is spend any more money than is necessary to land your next gig.

However, if you’ve been looking for work for a while and haven’t had much success, it may be time to invest in a professionally written resume. Resume writers are trained to not only help you tell your career story, but to frame the information in a way that will get past the electronic filters, known as applicant tracking systems (ATS), and catch the attention of recruiters.

Here are five signs it might be time to hire a resume writer and why it’s worth the investment.

Writing isn't your forte

Not everyone is a born writer. You may be a pro when it comes coding, but that doesn’t mean you know how to advertise your expertise in a way that will entice prospective employers. Focus on sharpening your marketable job skills. Let a professional writer figure out the best way to convey your talents on paper.

You don't know what to include

Writing a professional resume can be a stressful process. How far back should your employment history go? What will recruiters care most about? Do you have to mention that job you hated, or can you remove it altogether from your work history? If you don’t know where to start, consider getting some help from a pro. It’s the resume writer's job to know what recruiters are looking for and how to best highlight that information.

You haven’t mastered the #humblebrag

A great resume does more than simply list your work experience and education. It calls attention to your accomplishments and contributions that are worth bragging about. If you find it difficult to brag about your work, ask a professional to do it for you. A resume writer will find the words to describe the value you bring to a potential employer.

Your resume is getting lost in the black hole

Do you apply to job after job and never hear back? If so, then your resume may be falling into the infamous job-search black hole.

Most job applications must pass through a software program known as an applicant tracking system (ATS) before they make their way to the hiring manager. If your resume isn’t formatted properly or optimized with the right key terms, there’s a good chance it never got past these initial screens.

A professional resume writer can help your application avoid the resume black hole and make it through these initial reviews to the top of the hiring manager’s pile.

Your situation is unique

Perhaps you’re interested in changing careers and are unsure how to show off your transferable skills for a new industry. Or maybe you find yourself with some substantial employments gaps or a string of short-term or unrelated gigs that are dominating your resume. While you can’t change the past, a professional resume writer can help smooth out a bumpy work history by calling attention to your strengths and downplaying any weaknesses in your career story.

Hiring a professional resume writer might not be an option for everyone. But if you’re applying to the right opportunities and still struggling to land interviews, it may be time to seek out an expert’s opinion. Investing in a professional resume may give you just the edge you need to shorten your job search and land the right job, sooner.